Home Teeth Whitening Kits

Although, you can get a prescription for a kit easily, from any dentist, it usually costs more (not to mention the cost of the dentist visit itself) and may not be as convenient as just going to your local drug store and buying a similar product over the counter. These over the counter products may not be as effective as the dentist’s prescription would, but here is some advice in choosing the right product for you.

If you’ve decided against an expensive bleaching service, or don’t want to go with the dentist’s product, you can consider either an at home toothpaste with whitening ingredients, or at home whitening strips or trays.

The at home strips and trays are available at pharmacies, drug stores, and discount stores at reasonable prices, especially compared to the professional services and products. The bleaching gels usually contain a milder, but still effective, version of the carbamide peroxide used in the professional versions. This chemical helps to remove stains and bleach teeth gradually one whiter shade at a time. The at home kits do not seem to work well on porcelain crowns however.

There are concerns with using these products though, that you should keep in mind for your own safety. Occasionally patients complain about gum irritation and sensitivity which is caused by overexposure to the chemicals in the gels. Also associated is erosion of the tooth enamel. This is why most dentists do not recommend over the counter products, and will try to push the prescription varieties instead. But many people find the store-bought versions to be very effective and less costly, which is of importance to almost everyone.

To use the home-bleaching kits, such as the teeth whitening strips, you’ll need to wear them for about 30 minutes, twice a day, for up to 4 weeks. This depends on how bad your teeth are to begin with , and what level of whiteness you are looking to achieve. The trays are to be used overnight, each night, for about 2 to 3 weeks. There are other problems associated with the trays, and generally most people prefer the strip method.

If these products don’t seem to do the trick, you may have to consider seeing a dentist and getting the professional service. There are also quick (and fairly expensive) bleaching procedures, such as laser bleaching which you can ask your dentist about. Unfortunately these are never covered by insurance as they are simply cosmetic and aesthetic issues.